JONATHAN McWILLIAMS, a worthy representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Washington county, is a native of the same, having been born October 25, 1823, in Buffalo township. John McWilliams, his grandfather, a native of Ireland, when twelve years of age immigrated, in 1763, in company with two brothers---David and William---to America, taking up their first residence in New Castle, Del. Here they remained some time, and then came to Washington county, where they made their permanent home in Buffalo township, on "Lion's Bush," a tract of land granted on a Virginia certificate, and surveyed September 19, 1785. During the early part of their settlement they were much troubled by the Indians, many times having to flee to the nearest blockhouse for safety, and they never thought of going from home, even to church, without their trusty rifles. The farm on which they had settled was wild, and all the improvements thereon had to be made by the ceaseless labor of the family. While yet a young man, John McWilliams married Jane, daughter of Robert Taylor, an early settler of the county, and the founder of Taylorstown, and the following are the names and dates of birth of the children born to them: Mary, May 29, 1781; Martha, October 8, 1783; Wallace, December 2, 1785; John, December 1, 1788; Sarah, December 19, 1789; Jean, November 18,1791; Margaret, November 29, 1793; Elizabeth, December 29, 1795; Margaret, March 31, 1798; and Hannah, February 3, 1800. The family were members of the Presbyterian Church at Upper Buffalo, in which Mr. McWilliams was an elder for years; in politics he was a Democrat. Grandfather McWilliams died October 8, 1837; the grandmother about 1845.
Wallace McWilliams, father of subject, was born in Buffalo township, this county, and received his education at the primitive schools of the neighborhood. On April 6, 1819, he married Nancy, daughter of James Cleland, a native of Maryland, and the children born to them were John, Elizabeth (wife of John Flack), Jonathan and Jane (wife of W.S. Caldwell). The father of this family died June 20, 1860, the mother August 24, 1864. Mr. McWilliams was a prominent Democrat in his day, and for many years was a leading man in his party, holding several positions of trust in both township and county at various times; he was one of the board of commissioners appointed by the court for the purchase of the Washington County Poor Farm. In 1830 he was nominated and elected a member of the State Legislature, and re-elected for the ensuing term; in 1841 he was again elected to the position. He was a presidential elector in 1836, when Van Buren was elected president. In the militia of the day he took a lively interest, and was one time major-general of the forces in Washington and Greene counties. He was a consistent member and powerful supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and was a progressive, loyal citizen, greatly interested in the cause of education in his locality, serving many years on the school board.
Jonathan McWilliams was reared from earliest boyhood to the arduous duties of farm life, his winter months being for a few years devoted to attending the subscription and common schools of the neighborhood. On October 20, 1857, he was married to Z.W., daughter of William McCleese, of Chester county, Penn., and the young couple afterward remained on the McWilliams home place till 1871, in which year they came to Claysville, where they have since resided. They have no children. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. McWilliams is a lifelong Democrat. He has been a farmer all his days, but is now living retired, having accumulated a satisfactory competence. Like his father, he is progressive in the extreme, and in the management of schools it can safely be said that there is no one more zealous, active or useful in the community.
Text taken from page 552 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Jack McNatt of Valrico, FL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]